Time to get serious about a new smoker.

[PaloAltoCougar]

We rarely do steak (wife does not like it)...

This makes me very sad.

[CJF]

I have used Traeger brand pellets and they are good, but there are better out there. Currently I am usingCookingpellets.com "perfect mix" pellets. BBQ Delight pellets are good as well. Just dont use pellets designed for wood stoves. They need to be food grade.

So the pellet isn't brand specific? I can use any of the cooking pellets without problems on either machine??

[CJF]

$25 shipping for one bag? Ouch.

Where do you get your pellets in Utah?

[Jeff Lebowski]

Where do you get your pellets in Utah?

Anywhere that sells Traeger (there are lots of places). I usually go to Bullfrog spas in Orem.

[Drunk Tank]

$25 shipping for one bag? Ouch.

I got in on a group buy for some Bakersfield guys. I got 3 40lb bagsof perfect mix and 2 40lb bags of hickory pellets for $120 delivered.

[Drunk Tank]

So the pellet isn't brand specific? I can use any of the cooking pellets without problems on either machine??

Nope not brand specific. I really like Traeger brand pecan pellets.

[wuapinmon]

I need something that will do well during Utah winters. I need something that will be fairly easy to use. Kind of a set it and forget it type thing for long smokes. Something that is large enough to do a couple of racks of ribs or a turkey. I would like to be able to use it for breads/pizza or use it for a steak at 800 degrees. Is this unrealistic? Could one of you experts please point me in the right direction?

So, does this mean that your possible relocation we discussed is out?

[CJF]

So, does this mean that your possible relocation we discussed is out?

No, not at all. I'll take it with me. I'm ordering this for delivery to Utah. My Utah family will use it while I'm here and then I'll take it with me when I relocate. All my stuff is in a storage unit in Utah.

[CJF]

You wont be dissapointed. There are several people competeing with these and having good results.

Pulled the trigger. Should be there late next week. Can't wait.

[Drunk Tank]

:jealous: congrats!

[TripletDaddy]

Pulled the trigger. Should be there late next week. Can't wait.

You just spent 2k on a smoker?

[Tim]

I'm with you, CJF. The whole situation is getting out of control.

[CJF]

You just spent 2k on a smoker?

It is a 3 in 1 cooking machine!

[Drunk Tank]

You just spent 2k on a smoker?

The reality of it is, 2K for a nice smoker/grill it is about the going price for a unit of this quality. Yes, it is expensive. Go price out a custom pit. A Klose, Lang, or Spicewine offset will cost you 2-3K for a backyard model. Competition pits can run upwards of 6-10K. A Traeger like the one I bought at Costco retails for 1200 (I paid 799) and its now concidered low end as far as pellet grills go. A Cookshack FEC100 (which is a backyard/competition cooker runs $3600 and is concidered the creme de la creme of pellet smokers) is only a smoker, not a grill. An XL big green egg is about $1000 without any of the accessories. Add a table, tools, a digital temp controller and you could be looking at close to 2k.

The cheapest good quality smoker you can find is a Weber Smokey Montain. They come in an 18.5" and 22" and are $299 and $399 respectively. The Bradley smokers are not a bad choice either and are a good price point, but again, only a smoker. The Bradley's cannot be used in competition BBQ because they use a heating element as the source of the heat and not the wood puck, the puck is only used to add the smoke.

2k is alot to spend, but you are buying quality and it will last years to come.

[CJF]

The reality of it is, 2K for a nice smoker/grill it is about the going price for a unit of this quality. Yes, it is expensive. Go price out a custom pit. A Klose, Lang, or Spicewine offset will cost you 2-3K for a backyard model. Competition pits can run upwards of 6-10K. A Traeger like the one I bought at Costco retails for 1200 (I paid 799) and its now concidered low end as far as pellet grills go. A Cookshack FEC100 (which is a backyard/competition cooker runs $3600 and is concidered the creme de la creme of pellet smokers) is only a smoker, not a grill. An XL big green egg is about $1000 without any of the accessories. Add a table, tools, a digital temp controller and you could be looking at close to 2k.

The cheapest good quality smoker you can find is a Weber Smokey Montain. They come in an 18.5" and 22" and are $299 and $399 respectively. The Bradley smokers are not a bad choice either and are a good price point, but again, only a smoker. The Bradley's cannot be used in competition BBQ because they use a heating element as the source of the heat and not the wood puck, the puck is only used to add the smoke.

2k is alot to spend, but you are buying quality and it will last years to come.

I love the idea of a quick wood flavored grill or a wood burning oven. That is the clincher for me. I'll only get to use it a few weeks at a time for the next little while, but I'll use the heck out of it when I am around it. When I finally buy a grow old in house I want to have a built in for the back yard.